Introduction. Monothematic courses.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to R Campani.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
INTRODUCTION: Adequate radiologic assessment of the maxillofacial trauma patient is the basis for planning reparative surgery. We investigated the yield of the integration of axial CT with multiplanar (MP) and three-dimensional (3D) reconstructions with the Spiral technique. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty-five patients (21 men and 14 women, mean age: 31.2 years) with complex maxillofacial traumas were submitted to Spiral CT. Images were acquired with 2-3-mm collimation, 1:1 to 2:1 pitch, 210 mAs, 120 kV, 15-24 s Spiral scan, RI = 1. 3D reconstructions were always obtained and used to guide MPRs targeted on the single injury. The examinations were retrospectively given a score, namely 1 if 3D and MPR yielded no more important diagnostic information than axial CT, 2 if 3D and MPR permitted better detailing of some axial CT findings and thus improved image reading, and 3 if 3D and MPR showed new injuries missed on axial images. Then, a radiologist and a maxillofacial surgeon reviewed the 3D images together only to assess in which cases they were useful to optimize surgical planning. RESULTS: Nine cases (25.7%) scored 1, seventeen (48.6%) scored 2 and nine (25.7%) scored 3. MP and 3D reconstructions were useful or determinant (2 + 3) in over 74% of cases. 3D images made surgical planning easier in 15 of 32 surgical patients (46.8%), allowing the surgeon a better panoramic view of the complex fracture. CONCLUSIONS: The greatest advantage of multiplanar imaging is the improved depiction of skeletal injuries along a horizontal plane, paralleling that of axial scans. The depiction of fractures of cribrum and of orbital roof and floor was particularly useful from a clinical viewpoint. MPRs clearly depicted herniation and incarceration of the lower rectus muscle in blow-out fractures. MP and 3D reconstructions better defined the presence and grade of displaced bone fragments in nearly vertical structures, such as the upward branches and coronoid apophysis of the mandible. 3D images alone never showed any more fractures than those seen on axial and MP images. 3D images are especially useful to the surgeon because they permit the panoramic depiction of the fracture complex, which facilitates treatment planning. The radiologist can use 3D reconstructions to guide the acquisition of targeted MP reconstructions, for better diagnostic yield. The Spiral technique, with its pitch increases up to 2, permits to limit the radiation dose while preserving the quality of postprocessing reconstructions. Finally, decreasing the execution time is important in multiple trauma patients who are often clinically unstable or have damaged vital organs.
Pulmonary sequestration has always been diagnosed by direct demonstration of the vessels tributary to the lesion, usually by angiography. Conventional CT can identify the arterial supply in only two thirds of cases. We report a case of pulmonary sequestration diagnosed using Spiral CT, based on the demonstration of both arterial supply and venous drainage. The capabilities of Spiral CT to detect subtle vessel abnormalities and to yield reliable multiplanar imaging enabled us to show the whole course of both the artery and the vein tributary to the lesion. Axial images were the most useful ones to diagnose pulmonary sequestration; 2D and 3D reconstructions were useful for a detailed and immediate spatial depiction of the parenchymal abnormality and of its vascular pedicle.
We examined 14 patients, aged 10-25 years, with idiopathic hypopituitarism. All presented an ectopic posterior pituitary at the median eminence with a hypoplastic anterior pituitary on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Eight patients had isolated growth hormone deficit (IGHD) and six had multiple hormone deficits (MPHD). Unenhanced MRI showed the pituitary stalk, which was extremely thin, in only three patients, while T1-weighted images obtained after intravenous injection of gadopentetate dimeglumine (Gd-DTPA) showed a thin pituitary stalk in seven patients (six with IGHD and one with MPHD), demonstrating a preserved vascular component of the stalk. MRI with Gd-DTPA was more sensitive than unenhanced MRI in detecting the pituitary stalk in patients with hypopituitarism with an ectopic posterior pituitary: the stalk was demonstrated in 50 % of the cases (seven patients), versus 21.4 % (three patients) by unenhanced MRI. The dynamic study of the hypothalamo-hypophyseal axis performed with turbo-FLASH sequences after bolus injection of Gd-DTPA showed the residual anterior pituitary to have arterial enhancement times, which suggests that an arterial system compensates for the absent or diminished blood supply from the portal system, independent of stalk detection.
We report a case of communicating uterus diagnosed with MRI. These uterine malformations are characterized by a communicating tract between two separate uterocervical cavities, which is usually detected with hysterosalpingography performed for a suspected uterine malformation. In our patient MRI was performed after the clinical finding of a double cervix and a vaginal septum and demonstrated two separate uterine cavities, each of them with its own junctional area, and an isthmian transverse communicating tract with endometrial tissue inside, which helped make the diagnosis of a type-4 a communicating uterus according to Toaff.
PURPOSE: To compare spiral CT with conventional radiography in planning the orthodontic treatment of impacted permanent maxillary canines. METHODS: Nineteen patients with 29 malpositioned permanent maxillary canines (15 palatal and 12 buccal impactions, one ectopic and one transposition) were examined with conventional panoramic and lateral cephalometric radiography and with spiral CT (at 1 mm slice thickness, and 1:1 or 2:1 pitch) using multiplanar (MPR) and 3D reconstruction. RESULTS: Conventional radiography failed to depict root resorption especially on the buccal surfaces of the incisor teeth. CT located impacted teeth better. Contact between impacted maxillary canines and incisor roots was demonstrated in 26 cases and root resorption in eight. MPR proved to be superior for the orientation of impacted teeth, and, in two cases, confirmed the presence of minimal root lesions for which axial images had proved inconclusive. The 3D reconstructions were useful in targeting the MPR. CONCLUSIONS: CT facilitates the treatment of impacted canine especially when the teeth are very oblique to the arch. Root resorption is better demonstrated especially on the palatal and buccal surfaces of the adjacent incisors. Spiral CT reduces examination time and risk of accidental movement, thus optimizing MPR quality. Examination at 2:1 pitch enables a significant reduction in radiation exposure without loss of image quality.
OBJECTIVE: To compare spiral with conventional CT for multiplanar reconstruction (MPR) prior to dental implant placement. METHODS: Ten patients underwent conventional and then Spiral CT at 1 mm slice thickness. In six patients (Group A) the pitch was 1:1; the other four (Group B) it was 2:1. Image quality and clinical features were evaluated separately on axial and reconstructed images by two experienced radiologists who scored each parameter from 1 (poor, non-diagnostic) to 3 (good, diagnostic). RESULTS: Loss of spatial resolution with spiral CT was not significant and the diagnostic yield poorer only for trabecular bone structure. The MPRs were better and depiction of the mandibular canal more reliable. CONCLUSIONS: We recommend the use of spiral CT instead of conventional CT for dental MPR because examination time is shorter and patient comfort is improved. Use of a pitch of 2:1 permits a marked reduction in X-ray dose with no loss of image quality.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
This retrospective study was aimed at assessing Computed Tomography (CT) capabilities in identifying low- and high-risk groups of clinical stage I endometrial carcinoma patients. CT of the pelvis was performed on 125 endometrial carcinoma patients who were divided into two groups based on T (stage and depth of myometrial invasion) and N (lymph node status) parameters. All patients had histologic evidence of well/moderately-differentiated adenocarcinoma (G1-G2). The low-risk group consisted of stage I patients with superficial myometrial involvement and no lymphadenopathy, while the high-risk group consisted of the patients with deep myometrial invasion and/or stage II and/or positive lymph nodes. All patients were operated on-i.e., total abdominal hysterectomy with vaginal cuff, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy. The patients were followed-up for 36 months at least. On the basis of CT findings, 85 patients were included in the low-risk group, but 11 misstaged cases were found at surgery in which lymphadenectomy never changed the factor risk. Only four relapses (4.7%) were observed in this group. Forty patients were included in the high-risk group: CT misstaged 20 cases and 12 relapses (30%) were observed. This study demonstrates the clinical value of CT in the assessment of radiologic risk factors in stage I endometrial carcinoma; CT findings can be used as guidelines for different treatments.
To study the postoperative recurrences of varicocele and the relationship between recurrences and sperm variables, we reexamined postoperatively 48 patients aged 14-56 years (mean: 25 years); the patients returned within a time range of 4 to 36 months. All the patients underwent physical examination, B-mode, color and power Doppler sonography (US); the images were acquired with the patient both supine and upright, both at rest and during Valsalva maneuver. We studied the incidence of recurrences and their bilaterality, the presence of reflux with or without functional maneuvers, associated conditions, surgical complications and the improvement of sperm variables; color and power Doppler findings were compared. The incidence of recurrences (28) and that of major complications (2) were related to the type of surgery: thus, no complications but 26 recurrences were found in the patients with spermatic vein ligation, versus only 2 recurrences but also 2 major complications (1 testicular ischemia and 1 hydrocele) in the patients with ligation of the spermatic cord venous channels. A right varicocele was found in 12 patients, which confirmed the frequent bilaterality of this condition; 8 patients with recurrences had improved sperm variables and 6 presented associated conditions. Our trial confirms that B-mode US, combined with color and power Doppler, can show recurrences, bilaterality, surgical complications and associated conditions and emphasize the role of these exams in the postoperative follow-up of varicocele. However, no method alone, without the evaluation of sperm variables, permits to select the patients to be reoperated on.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
INTRODUCTION: Rationalizing preoperative chest radiography remains a problem in our Country. Therefore, we tried to use preoperative chest films rationally in obstetrics and gynecology to assess their impact on anesthesia planning and patient management and their use in early postoperative complications. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We examined two groups of patients: group A consisted of 570 women (mean age: 31 years) scheduled to be submitted to cesarean section but with no preoperative chest radiography; group B consisted of 471 patients (homogeneous in age to group A patients) submitted to nononcologic gynecologic surgery and with a single-projection preoperative chest radiograph. Anesthesiologic assessment, preoperative biochemical tests and EKG were performed in all patients. All patients underwent abdominal surgery under general anesthesia. The first 24 postoperative hours were monitored for possible anesthesia-related complications. The anesthesiologist need of chest radiography based on clinical findings was investigated in group A patients, as well as the importance of chest film findings in possible anesthesia-related complications. RESULTS: Group A and group B were homogeneous by mean patient age and anesthesia duration; clinical findings never suggested the need of chest radiography in group A patients. Three cardiorespiratory complications occurred (two respiratory arrests in group A and a gas embolism in group B), but the (un)availability of chest film findings made no difference in treatment. DISCUSSION: The availability of the preoperative chest radiographs of a group of healthy women of 31 years mean age does not make any difference in anesthesia planning and type. In our series, the most severe cardiorespiratory complications were homogeneous in the two groups, which confirms their random character, and the (un)availability of preoperative chest film findings made no real difference, even though the lack of radiographic evidence made patient management more demanding for anesthesiologists.
PURPOSE: We studied the CT and MR appearance of thymic carcinoids and compared the morphostructural patterns of this tumor with those of other anterior mediastinal masses particularly involving the thymic area. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed all the chest CT scans performed 1985-1996. Four patients (2 women and 2 men; age range: 25-51 years, mean: 36.5) had thymic carcinoid. MR findings were also available for 3 of 4 patients. The pathologic diagnosis was made in all cases, by CT-guided needle biopsy (1 case), by surgical biopsy (2 cases), or directly at surgery (1 case). RESULTS: CT showed capsulated, quite enhanced tumors with no local spread or distant metastases in 1 case; 2 tumors appeared as complex masses with necrotic components and calcifications, massively invading mediastinal structures; another case appeared as an infiltration of mediastinal fat and vessels with no definite tumor mass. Thrombosis of the superior vena cava and right atrium and some lung metastases were found in one case. MR signal was hypointense on T1 and PD images and inhomogeneously hyperintense on T2 images in all the 3 patients. One patient had Cushing syndrome and another mild adrenocortical hyperfunction. The other patients had no endocrine dysfunctions. Both the patients treated with surgery and subsequent irradiation are alive and free of relapse at 48 and 17 months, while the other 2 patients died 25 and 39 months after the diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: The CT and MR patterns of thymic carcinoids are not specific because other mediastinal and particularly thymic tumors present similar patterns. However, a thymic carcinoid must be suspected when a thymic mass is associated with clinical laboratory findings of endocrine dysfunction.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.